Page 86 of Ruthless Heir

“Did you call me here to gloat?”

“I made you come here because you need to call in that favor I owe you.”

“What favor?”

“You know exactly the one I’m talking about.” She glared at me.

Oh, I knew. A few years ago, Ashok Shah had planned to use video surveillance footage to frame Nik for Kir’s murder. Although only a handful of people knew at the time, Kir had survived the wreck. My team and I eliminated any trace of Nik’s involvement in the cleanup following Kir’s near-fatal car accident.

“I’ve got it covered.”

“Is it so fucking hard for you to depend on others, Devani? You don’t have to do everything alone.”

I sighed. “It isn’t that, I promise. You technically are my backup plan. Well, you and Lilly.”

“Since when the hell am I a backup plan? I’m the fucking nuclear option.” She sat up, outrage on her face. “Do you know what’s at stake?”

“I know exactly what’s at stake. It’s all I’ve thought about. I’m stubborn, Dani. Not stupid.”

She shifted her chair to face me fully. “I want to hear it all.”

“You’re pretty bossy when riled up, shorty.”

“Fuck off. You’re only an inch and a half taller than me. Now get to it.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I pushed onto the edge of her desk.

Once seated, I said, “I’m going to fuck this case up royally. The plan is to take it to such a level of bad that there isn’t any recovery from it. As a result, I may have to retire from the organization altogether.”

The scowl on her face made it very clear she found nothing amusing in my words. More than likely, she’d give it her best shot to tie me to a chair to keep me in place if she hated what I told her next.

I glanced down at the platinum cuff on my wrist and then traced the names written in Sanskrit hidden among intricate patterns etched into the metal.

I’d known what it meant when Sam had given me the gift, even if I’d refused to admit it.

That was probably the day we’d passed the point of no return.

“You were already planning to retire, so keep going before I lose my shit.”

I returned my focus to Danika’s striking face and stated, “The Queen of Diamonds is going to claim her King.”

* * *

“So you’re goingto do this?” Neil’s voice came through the transmitter attached to the back of my earring as I cleared the last security checkpoints to enter the Carina Hotel.

“Absolutely.”

“You could have given me a little warning.”

“You’re on the line with me now.”

This evening, all of New York’s elite had gathered for a charity casino night hosted by the King brothers. Anyone who garnered an invitation would attend without question, including Ashok Shah and all he considered his societal group of friends and acquaintances.

I understood why the Kings allowed their enemies admission to their events. They enjoyed playing with their prey.

However, when my invitation arrived, personally addressed by Sam, I wasn’t sure if he requested my presence as a guest or as an adversary to watch.

In the end, it hadn’t mattered. I’d already planned to crash the party, whether invited or not.

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